ZScaler SME Network Engineer

Agile Defense; Ashburn, Northern (VA, KY); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Agile Defense is seeking a Senior Network Engineer in the Ashburn, VA area to design, deploy, and manage enterprise Zscaler solutions (ZIA, ZPA, ZDX, ZCC) across multi-cloud and on-premises environments. You will serve as the technical authority, implementing zero-trust access policies and guiding security posture for mission-critical networks.

You will lead Tier-3 support, coordinate IAM integrations (SAML/SCIM), and drive observability with SIEM tools while traveling up to 20% of the time to

Qualifications

• Experience designing and deploying Zscaler in multi-cloud environments.
• Experience with ZIA, ZPA, ZDX and ZCC client deployments.
• Ability to travel up to 20% within the United States.

Responsibilities

• Design, deploy, administer, upgrade, and optimize enterprise Zscaler environments across multi-cloud and on-premises.
• Create and tune security policies (URL filtering, DLP, SSL/TLS inspection) and sandbox rules.
• Develop and enforce least-privilege access with ZPA for internal apps in private clouds and data centers.
• Provide Tier 2/3 escalation support for complex proxy routing, authentication issues, and latency problems.
• Manage Zscaler Client Connector lifecycle across macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
• Leverage ZDX, Splunk, Cribl for observability and alerting; integrate SIEM data.
• Coordinate with IAM teams to configure SAML/SCIM attributes with IdPs (Okta, Azure AD, Ping Identity).
• Prepare RCA/post-incident reports and perform root cause analyses; support vendor escalation when needed.
• Maintain network diagrams, topology maps, SOPs, and change tickets (ServiceNow/Remedy).
• Support on-call rotations and emergency changes to restore services within SLA.

Skills

Zscaler deployments

Zero Trust

Security policies

SAML/SCIM attributes

Tier-3 support

On-call rotation

Tools

Zscaler Client Connector

Splunk

Cribl

ServiceNow

Job description

About Agile Defense

At Agile Defense we know that action defines the outcome and new challenges require new solutions. That’s why we always look to the future and embrace change with an unmovable spirit and the courage to build for what comes next.

Our vision is to bring adaptive innovation to support our nation's most important missions through the seamless integration of advanced technologies, elite minds, and unparalleled agility—leveraging a foundation of speed, flexibility, and ingenuity to strengthen and protect our nation’s vital interests.

Serve as a Senior Network Engineer enabling the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) mission and enterprise network infrastructure. The applicant will serve as the primary technical authority for designing, deploying, administering, upgrading and optimizing enterprise-wide Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solutions using the Zscaler cloud security platform. This role leads the operational architecture across Zscaler Internet Access (ZIA), Zscaler Private Access (ZPA), and Zscaler Digital Experience (ZDX), driving modern Zero Trust initiatives

Required Skills

• The Senior network engineer will be the technical lead performing the following: Architecture & Engineering: Design, implement, and maintain enterprise Zscaler deployments (ZIA, ZPA, ZDX, and Zscaler Client Connector) across multi-cloud and hybrid corporate environments.
• Policy & Governance: Create, audit, and tune security policies, including URL filtering, Cloud Application Control, SSL/TLS deep packet inspection, Data Loss Prevention (DLP), and sandbox policies.
• Zero Trust Deployment: Formulate and execute access policies within ZPA to enable least-privilege direct access to internal applications in private clouds (AWS, Azure, GCP) and on-premises data centers without traditional VPN overhead.
• Operational Troubleshooting: Serve as Tier-3/Tier-4 escalation support for complex proxy routing, PAC (Proxy Auto-Configuration) file debugging, identity integration, authentication drops, and application latency issues.
• Agent Lifecycle Management: Manage enterprise distribution, health checks, profile tuning, and version upgrades of Zscaler Client Connector (ZCC) across macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android platforms.
• Observability & Analytics: Leverage ZDX and cloud analytics to isolate user experience degradation across endpoint, network ISP, and application levels; configure automated alerting and SIEM log integration (Splunk, Cribl).
• Cross-Functional Integration: Partner with Identity and Access Management (IAM) teams to configure SAML/SCIM attributes with IdPs such as Okta, Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD), or Ping Identity.
• Troubleshooting & Incident Management: Provide Tier 2/Tier 3 escalation support for network outages, circuit degradations, and performance issues; conduct root cause analyses (RCA) and coordinate vendor support.
• Documentation & Asset Management: Maintain accurate network diagrams (Visio), topology maps, inventory databases, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and change control tickets (ServiceNow/Remedy).
• Support On-Call & Escalation Management: support 24/7/365 on-call rotation readiness to respond to Tier 3 critical network incidents within SLA limits and coordinating cross-functional escalation pathways. When needed to restore services, the Senior Network Engineer will provide a solution and implement an Emergency Change Request (ECR), Emergency Break Fix (EBF), or Change Request.
• Root Cause Analysis (RCA) or Post Incident Reporting: Participate in the Root Cause Analysis (RCA) or post incident analysis of problems for mission critical applications, mission essential applications, and mission essential network infrastructure as well as recurring issues on the enterprise IT infrastructure.
• Project Support: Partner with program and project managers to align network engineering deliverables, milestone schedules, and resource planning with enterprise project objectives.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to troubleshoot complex network issues.
• Scheduled and Adhoc Travel: Ability to travel within the United States either on short notice or scheduled, up to 20% of the time.

Preferred Skills

• The Senior network engineer will be the technical lead performing the following: Architecture & Engineering: Design, implement, and maintain enterprise Zscaler deployments (ZIA, ZPA, ZDX, and Zscaler Client Connector) across multi-cloud and hybrid corporate environments.
• Policy & Governance: Create, audit, and tune security policies, including URL filtering, Cloud Application Control, SSL/TLS deep packet inspection, Data Loss Prevention (DLP), and sandbox policies.
• Zero Trust Deployment: Formulate and execute access policies within ZPA to enable least-privilege direct access to internal applications in private clouds (AWS, Azure, GCP) and on-premises data centers without traditional VPN overhead.
• Operational Troubleshooting: Serve as Tier-3/Tier-4 escalation support for complex proxy routing, PAC (Proxy Auto-Configuration) file debugging, identity integration, authentication drops, and application latency issues.
• Agent Lifecycle Management: Manage enterprise distribution, health checks, profile tuning, and version upgrades of Zscaler Client Connector (ZCC) across macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android platforms.
• Observability & Analytics: Leverage ZDX and cloud analytics to isolate user experience degradation across endpoint, network ISP, and application levels; configure automated alerting and SIEM log integration (Splunk, Cribl).
• Cross-Functional Integration: Partner with Identity and Access Management (IAM) teams to configure SAML/SCIM attributes with IdPs such as Okta, Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD), or Ping Identity.
• Troubleshooting & Incident Management: Provide Tier 2/Tier 3 escalation support for network outages, circuit degradations, and performance issues; conduct root cause analyses (RCA) and coordinate vendor support.
• Documentation & Asset Management: Maintain accurate network diagrams (Visio), topology maps, inventory databases, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and change control tickets (ServiceNow/Remedy).
• Support On-Call & Escalation Management: support 24/7/365 on-call rotation readiness to respond to Tier 3 critical network incidents within SLA limits and coordinating cross-functional escalation pathways. When needed to restore services, the Senior Network Engineer will provide a solution and implement an Emergency Change Request (ECR), Emergency Break Fix (EBF), or Change Request.
• Root Cause Analysis (RCA) or Post Incident Reporting: Participate in the Root Cause Analysis (RCA) or post incident analysis of problems for mission critical applications, mission essential applications, and mission essential network infrastructure as well as recurring issues on the enterprise IT infrastructure.
• Project Support: Partner with program and project managers to align network engineering deliverables, milestone schedules, and resource planning with enterprise project objectives.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to troubleshoot complex network issues.
• Scheduled and Adhoc Travel: Ability to travel within the United States either on short notice or scheduled, up to 20% of the time.

$170,000 - $185,000 a year

Our Core Values

• Happy - Be Infectious. Happiness multiplies and creates a positive and connected environment where motivation and satisfaction have an outsized effect on everything we do.
• Helpful - Be Supportive. Being helpful is the foundation of teamwork, resulting in a supportive atmosphere where collaboration flourishes, and collective success is celebrated.
• Honest - Be Trustworthy. Honesty serves as our compass, ensuring transparent communication and ethical conduct, essential to who we are and the complex domains we support.
• Humble - Be Grounded. Success is not achieved alone, humility ensures a culture of mutual respect, encouraging open communication, and a willingness to learn from one another and take on any task.
• Hungry - Be Eager. Our hunger for excellence drives an insatiable appetite for innovation and continuous improvement, propelling us forward in the face of new and unprecedented challenges.
• Hustle - Be Driven. Hustle is reflected in our relentless work ethic, where we are each committed to going above and beyond to advance the mission and achieve success.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities